A bad trip is a high that turns bad: anxiety, panic, confusion, sometimes paranoid thoughts, along with a racing heart or nausea. It happens more often with a lot of THC, little experience, a poor physical or mental state and when other substances are involved. It usually passes.
How to help:
- Stay with the person and take them somewhere quiet with little light, little noise and few people.
- Make sure there is fresh air.
- Talk to them calmly and patiently and do not spread panic. Be patient, it can take a while for things to get better.
- If they are breathing very fast, show them how to breathe calmly.
- If they have circulation problems, i.e. pale, clammy skin and a fast pulse: lay them down and raise and support their legs.
- Do not leave them alone. If it does not get better, call the emergency number.
Call 112 immediately if the person is unconscious, is not breathing normally, has a seizure, has severe chest pain or if you are unsure. Tell the emergency services what was taken. Doctors are bound by medical confidentiality.
If the person is unconscious but breathing normally, put them in the recovery position until the emergency services arrive.
Remember: Stay with them, calm them down, if in doubt call 112.
More on this: When it gets too much